Mansard roof



(No Model.)

0. G. GILMAN.

I MANSARD ROOF. No. 349.584. Patented Sept. 21, 1886.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhographer. Wnshi nnnnnnn c.

IINITED STATES PATENT 0FFICE CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, OF ELDORA, IOW'A.

MANSARD ROOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,584, datedSeptember 21, 1886.

' Application filed January 25, 1886. Serial No. 189,605. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARROLL GIL MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Eldora, Hardin county, Iowa, have inventedanew and useful Improvement in Mansard Roofs, of which the following isa specification.

The object of my invention is to constructa light, strong, durable, andthoroughly fireproof Mansard roof; and to this end my invention consistsin combining with an iron framework slabs, tiles, or panels of porousterra-cotta or terra-cotta lumber.

It also consists in combining thisiron framework and porous terra-cottawith an exterior covering of slate.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this invention, Figure 1represents a side elevation of a Mansard roof constructed in accordancewith my invention, a portion of the porous terracotta and of the slatebeing removed to clearly illustrate the invention; and Fig. 2 is adetail View in cross-section 'on line :0 w of Fig. 1, showing the methodof securing the panels or sheets of porous terra-cotta to the ironframe-work.

Porous terra-cotta or terracotta lumber possesses many advantages overother material for roof construction. It is very light, a very poorconductor of heat, and entirely non-combustible. It does not crack whensubjected, while highlyheated, to the action of water, and consequentlyalways remains in place. It can also be wroughtwith edged tools andeasily receives and holds nails. In the construction of Mansard roofs itis very desirable to render the same thoroughly fire-proof, and to do sowithout great expense and without increasing the weight of the roof as awhole. It is alsodesirable that a roof should be so constructed as torender the apartments immediately thereunder as habitable as any otherpart of the house-'i. 6., it should be constructed of a material whichis a poor conductor of heat. These several requirements are fully met bythe combination of elements herein described and claimed.

In the drawings an iron frame-work is represented constructed of T-ironsriveted or otherwise fastened together, so as to form square or othershaped panels or frames of a size coning through said blocks and throughthe pervenient for the application of the sheets, tiles, slats, orpanels of porous terra-cotta hereinaf ter referred to. .These T-irons orpurlins A are arranged so that their webs B project outwardly, as shown,while the flanges G of said purlins are perforated on each side of theweb with holes D for the passage of the nails or other fastening meansusedto secure the sheets of porous terracotta in place. Each square orframe formed by said purlin-irons may be likened to a sash before it hasreceived its pane of glass. This iron frame-work, by reason of itsform,and also because ithas no heavy weight to carry, may be constructedin a comparatively light manner and without great expense. In thesquares, frames, or panels of said iron frame-work I fit sheets, tiles,or blocks E of porous terra-cotta or terra-cotta lumber. The thicknessof said tiles or blocks will vary more or less-say, from one to threeinches-accord ing to the size of thehouse or roof. They may be of athickness equal to or greater than the height of the Web of the purlins,and may be molded to the proper size or sawed to the exact configurationafter firing. After they are inserted in the squares or panels of theframework, as a pane of glass would be in a sash, they aresecnred bywrought-iron nails G, passforations D in the flanges of the purlin-ironsand clinched on the inside, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The placeswhere the nails are to pass through the porous terra-cotta may beindicated on said blocks in any convenient manner, or holes may be madein the first instance therein for the passage of the said nails.

Instead of using nails, as above described, bolts and nuts may beemployed; but the firstdescribed fastening means is preferred.

If desired, a washer, H, may be placed under each nail-head, so as toguard against the possi bility of the block or slab slipping off of thenail.

After theporous terra-eotta blocks have been 9 5 of cement mortar may belaid on the porous terra-cotta before the covering of slate is applied.Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A Mansard roof constructed of an iron frame-work and blocks or panelsof porous ter- 5 ra-eotta secured to said framework by clinched nailspassing through said blocks and through flanges of said frame-work,substantially as described.

2. A Mansard roof constructed of an iron 10 frame-Work, blocks or panelsof porous terra-

